Woman in Bareilly fabricates gang-rape, shooting allegation to frame Mayor, say police
Bareilly: A 40-year-old woman from Bareilly in Uttar Pradesh has been accused of fabricating a sensational case involving abduction, gang-rape, and an attempt to murder, allegedly to falsely implicate the city’s Mayor, Dr Umesh Gautam, and his son.
According to police, the woman lodged a complaint on March 29, claiming that five men had abducted her, raped her inside a moving vehicle, and then shot her in the chest before abandoning her. The case initially triggered concern and a police response.
However, during the course of investigation, police uncovered discrepancies in her version of events. Medical examination results and CCTV footage from various locations mentioned in her complaint did not support her narrative. A key element of her allegation, the bullet injury on her chest, was found to be self-inflicted with assistance from an unlicensed doctor.
Police officials revealed that the woman had paid ₹2,500 to a quack to surgically implant a bullet into her body to make the injury appear real. The case came under scrutiny after the findings were reported by Hindi daily Navbharat Times.
Further investigation revealed that the woman had worked as a domestic help at Mayor Umesh Gautam’s residence until 2021. Police also noted that she had filed a similar complaint against the Mayor in 2022, which had been closed due to lack of evidence.
In her latest complaint, the woman alleged that the Mayor's son, Parth Gautam, had instructed the accused kidnappers over a phone call to eliminate her, claiming she was creating problems for his father. However, surveillance footage from the claimed locations of the incident failed to support her story.
Police said legal action would be taken in connection with the false complaint and for the involvement of the unlicensed doctor who assisted in the surgical procedure.
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Bhojshala case: Disputed structure built from remains of pre-existing temples, claims ASI
Indore (PTI): The ASI has told the Madhya Pradesh High Court that a massive structure dating back to the Paramara kings' rule existed at the disputed Bhojshala temple-Kamal Maula mosque complex, and the current structure was built from the remains of temples.
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) made the claim on Tuesday based on its 98-day scientific survey and over 2,000-page report.
The Hindu community considers Bhojshala a temple dedicated to Vagdevi (Goddess Saraswati), while the Muslim side claims the monument as the Kamal Maula Mosque. The disputed complex is protected by the ASI.
During the hearing before Justices Vijay Kumar Shukla and Alok Awasthi of the HC's Indore bench, Additional Solicitor General Sunil Kumar Jain, representing the ASI, presented a detailed account of the scientific survey conducted two years ago at the complex.
Referring to the ASI's survey report, he said, "Retrieved architectural remains, sculptural fragments, large slabs of inscriptions with literary texts, Nagakarnika inscriptions on pillars, etc, suggest that a large structure associated with literary and educational activities existed at the site. Based on scientific investigations and archaeological remains recovered during the investigations, this pre-existing structure can be dated to the Paramara period."
It can be said that the existing structure was made from the parts of earlier temples, based on scientific investigations, survey and archaeological excavations conducted, study and analysis of retrieved finds, study of architectural remains, sculptures, and inscriptions, art and sculptures, Jain said quoting the report.
Summarising the report, he also drew the court's attention to the fact that the archaeological study identifies that many architectural components, such as pillars and beams, were originally part of temple structures before being repurposed for a mosque.
"The evidence of this transition includes Sanskrit and Prakrit inscriptions that were damaged or hidden, alongside sculptures of deities and animals that were often mutilated or defaced," Jain contended.
The report also states that "all Sanskrit and Prakrit inscriptions are older than the Arabic and Persian inscriptions, indicating that users or engravers of the Sanskrit and Prakrit inscriptions occupied the place earlier".
In light of the Muslim side's earlier objections, the bench wanted to know why there were some discrepancies in the ASI's responses regarding the status of the disputed complex in the cases filed over the years.
The Additional Solicitor General argued that earlier studies of the complex involved only officials, while the current survey involved scientists and the use of advanced technologies such as Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR).
The hearing in the Bhojshala case will continue on Wednesday.
The high court has been regularly hearing four petitions and one writ appeal regarding the religious nature of the Bhojshala temple-Kamal Maula mosque complex since April 6.
